Spike extractor



Oct. 5, 1943. D v s v 2,330,874-

SPIKE EXTRACTOR Filed Aug. 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I [rxmflwe a WWW Oct. 5, 1943. I c. b. EAVES 2,330,874

I SPIKE EXTRACTOR Filed Aug. 12, 1941 '2. Sheets-Sheet 2 i=7 37.5 I Ffj Patented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I r 2,330,874 I I SPIKE EXTRACTOR Carson Dewey Eaves, Memphis, Tenn.

Application August 12, 1941, Serial No. 406,543

I 7 (c1. 254 1s.).

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a pu apparatus and more particularly to ajack assembly for extracting spikes, nails, bolts and the like from railroad ties and planks 'The primary object of this invention is to Provide a compact, jack operated, portable spike puller or extractor, wherein the spike engaging member follows the movement, of the movable jack piece during the operation of said jack.

Another-object is to provide a spike extractor 'adapted'to pull spikes of varying length and sizes, either with or Without; head portions.

The broad; conceptof this invention embraces a pulling apparatus comprisinga jack assembly wherein the movable i'ack' piece, has associated therewith a spike engagin member which follows the movement of said jack piece during the operation of thejack, and additionally a plurality of auxiliary members for detachable engagement with said jack pieceforextracting spikesof vary- Figure 3 is aview taken alongt he lines 3 3 of Figure 1, in the directionindicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is a side-elevation of a modified form of the invention wherein the spike engaging memher is adapted for engagement with a spike disposed below the level of the jack base,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the spike engaging member first depicted in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of still a further modification showing the position of the spike engaging member where the spike being extracted is relatively long,

Figure '7 is a side elevation of another modified form of the invention showing the extraction of a headless spike disposed below the surface level of the jack base,

1 Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the spike receiving member first shown in Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the spike receiving member of Figure 8, and

Figure 10 is a detail, partly in section, of the spike extracting member laterally extending from the lower end portion of the movable jack member.

Referring now to the drawings, and morerparticularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the numeral l0 generally indicates a jack, said jack havingJ-a housing H, a handle I2, a base portion 13 and a movablejack piece M.

The present-invention does not reside in the The upper portion of the jack piece carries a head-l 8 which may be of. any suitable configuration. A bolt or spike head engaging cap l9 isinternally recessed to fit snugly over the head. [8

and is held. against lateral slippage.- The cap [9' provided with a laterally extending C-shaped arm 20 which is recessed to receive the head et. a bolt, the center point of therecessed portion being along the vertical axis extending upwardly from the center point of. the recessed-portion of .collar [5. v

- The cap 19 is removable iromthehead [-8 and only plays a partin the spike. pulling operation whereyery long spikes are being extracteias described hereinafter.

In the operation-bf this. form oi'the invention, the spike I! is first extracted or pulled from the plank in which it is embedded to such a distance as to enable the head 16 thereof to he slipped into the recessed portion of the collar l5. The lack handle is then pumped and the spike I1 is withdrawn from the plank by a series of movements corresponding to the upward movement of the jack piece l4 within the housing I I.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a modified form of this invention wherein an auxiliary bolt or spike engaging member is provided and is generally indicated by the numeral 2|. The spike engaging member 2| ha a shank 22 having mounted thereon in spaced apart relation a plurality of portions, indicated a 23 and 24, which preferably have the same general size and configuration as the head of the spike being extracted.

The member 2| is provided with a bifurcated arm at the lower end thereof, said arm having a bolt head receiving ring 25. The arm 25 is apertured to receive the bolt 21. A nut 28 threadedly engages said bolt 21 to furnish means for increasing or decreasing the diameter of ring 26.

The spike engaging member 2| is primarly used in combination with the jack assembly where the spike to be extracted is below the surface level upon which the base |3 of the jack is disposed. One of the portions, such as 24, mounted along the shank 22 is positioned inv the recessed portion of the collar I5. The member 2| is then adapted u to move upwardly with the collar 15.

In the operation of this form of the, invention,

the spike 30 is first pulled out of the plank in which it is embedded to such an extent that the head 29 can be slid into the ring 26-. The handle I 2 of the jack II] is pumped and the jack piece M, the collar l5 and the member 2|, moveupwardly in a series of moves.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown the apparatus for extracting long bolts or Spikes, such as 3 I, provided with a head 32. i

The bolt 32 is first partially extracted, using the apparatus illustrated in Figuresl, 2 and 3. The ring 26 of member 2| engages head 32 of bolt-3|, while the collar 24 is engaged in the recessed portion of the arm 20 of the cap I 9 which is secured on the head I8 of; the jack piece l4. Pumping of the handle 12 will elevate the jack-piece I4, the member 2! and extract the bolt 3! from the planks in which it is embedded.

In the extraction or pulling of very long bolts or spikes the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3 is first used topartially pull the bolt or spike upwardly. Thereafter the head of the bolt or spike is engaged in the recessed portion of the arm 2!] for the further operation of the jack. 7

Referring now to Figures 7, 8 and, 9, there is shown a jack attachment, generally indicated as 33, in combination with the complete jack assembly, for use in pulling headless spikes, nails, pipes or the like. s V I v The attachment 33-is internally recessed and is provided with a cut away sid portion, indicated as 34, and a bottom slot 35 which is of such size so as to permit the-insertion of the headless spike 36 therethrough to bear against an internal projecting portion 31, and to prevent substantial lateral slippage. f

A wedge 38 having a serrated side portion 39 is provided for insertion through the opening 34, the serrated portion 39 abutting the headless spike 36 as it bears against the shoulder 31, to firmly hold said spike 36 in said attachment 33.

A bolt 40 is mounted in the upper end portion of the attachment 33 and carries a head 4| adapted to engage in the recessed portion of the collar l5. Bolt 40 is adapted to fit in ring 26 of the elongated spike engaging member 2| when extracting headless spike disposed substantially below the base l3 of the jack I0.

In the operation of this form of the invention the spike 36 is first extracted from the plank to such a degree that it can be inserted through the slot 35 of the attachment 33. The wedge 38 is inserted through the opening 34 with the serrated portion 39 thereof abutting the spike 36. A tight fit is accomplished by hammering wedge 38 to urge spike 36 sideways in said slot 35. In this position of the wedge 38, the top end of the spike 36 partially bears against the shoulder 31a.

The head 4| of the bolt 40 is slid into the recessed portion of the collar l5. Pumping of the handle I 2 of the jack l0 elevates the jack piece M to withdraw the spike 36 by a series of moves.

The Figure 10 shows the-collar l5 secured to the lower end portion of the jack piece M, as by bolts 42. The collar l5 may be cast in one piece with the jack piece I4, if so desired.

It is to be understood that various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is therefore desired to be limited only by 'thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A spike extractor comprising a jack assembly including a vertically movable jack piece, a laterally extending recessed C-shaped member carried by the lower end portion of said'jack piece, a second laterally extending recessed C-shaped member removably carried by the upper end portion of said jack piece, the recesses in each of said c-shaped members being substantially in vertical alignment, an elongated arm having a bifurcated spike engaging portion, and said arm being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart collars each adapted for selective engagement in the said recessed C-shaped members.

2. A spike extractor comprising a jack assembly including a vertically movable jack piece, a recessed member carried by said jack piece, a sec- CARSONDEWEY EAVES. 

